A thug who battered his ex-partner told her he would “make a mess” of her after she refused to get back together with him.

Ian Crute and his girlfriend were in a happy relationship for 15 years before the relationship broke down last November.

Fuelled by alcohol, Crute subjected his ex to a vicious assault in her own bed which left her with a broken cheekbone.

Despite never being violent before, Crute had first revealed his aggressive side when he pushed his partner around the time the relationship ended. She had decided not to report him to the police after he apologised, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After the break-up, the 39-year-old repeatedly asked his ex if they could get back together but she kept saying no.

On February 2, Crute texted his ex-girlfriend asking he could visit her at her home in Newcastle while their young daughter was at her grandparents.

He arrived at 6.45pm with 12 cans of lager and proceeded to drink five cans in her home, the court heard.

At 11pm, his victim asked Crute, of Sceptre Court, Newcastle, to leave so she could go to sleep. He said he would have one more can, then leave and lock the door after him.

Prosecuting, Bridie Smurthwaite said: “At 11.30pm, she was woken by Crute who was pushing her in the bed saying he wanted to talk to her and that he blamed her for the problems in their relationship.

“He said ‘I’m going to make a mess of you before I leave.’”

As he slapped her face, she began to cry saying “No don’t”. He replied “I’ve got nothing to lose” and said he would see his daughter again after going to prison.

Jumping onto the bed, he sat over her and punched her right eye which started to swell from the impact. He punched her again in the eye saying “I’m going to jail”.

The victim later told police the pain was “like someone had put a red hot poker in my eye”.

Crute made his victim look at her injuries in a mirror and taunted her, saying “It didn’t have to come to this. This is your fault” before adding “I have done a good job.”

Although his victim had a broken cheekbone and other facial injuries, she was made to endure Crute talking to her into the early hours and smashing the bedroom up.

She went to the Royal Victoria Infirmary the next day and a scan on February 16 revealed she had a broken cheekbone. She was waiting to find out if she would need an operation when she went to her last assessment.

Crute was arrested the day after the attack and pleaded guilty to GBH.

He wept in the dock the victim’s personal statement was read out to Newcastle Crown Court.

It said: “Ian had no right to do this to me. I will not allow him in my life again. I’m still frightened of Ian and I would like to ask the police or courts to stop him coming near me or my address.”

Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced Crute to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and made a restraining order to prevent Crute from contacting his ex-partner.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £618.

Judge Rippon said: “She will be carrying this around for the rest of her life and I hope you do too. She suffers with numbness of the face which is a constant reminder of the night you punched her.”

Mark Saunders, defending, said Crute had admitted the offence at the earliest opportunity.

He added: “He is a working man with no previous convictions. There was a cumulative effect of depression and frustration. His remorse has been expressed.”